Name: Vicki Hadfield

Rank: Proud Originator of  Baradine Bodies’ Fitness For Females: (aka Fitness4Females) Website,  Personal Training & Fitness Modelling

Serial Number: Australian Fitness Network membership number: #019136 since January 1993

What led you to work in the Fitness Industry?
Being a tomboy growing up, appreciating muscles and strength, and of course, being passionate about being fit and healthy.

What was your first experience of working in the Fitness Industry?
A love of Gymnastics led to me becoming a Level 1 Coach & Judge in Women's Artistic Gymnastics in 1980. Later that year, I developed and taught “Fitness For Females” classes at the local Youth Centre.... even my Mum was a class participant, which I thought was really cool!

What is your most memorable fitness-related experience?
Again, to choose just one is hard, there have been so many....... OK, my first fitness modelling job on "Good Morning Australia" was the ultimate reward for overcoming a sad case of "couch potato syndrome".
 
What is the most rewarding part of your Fitness Industry job?
Gosh, sooo many, hmmm let’s see;

• Seeing my gorgeous clients' self image soar as a result of their successes, especially when they break a “World” Record . Having a PT session referred to as “Laughter Therapy”......now that makes me smile  ;-)
• Researching articles and products for inclusion in this website, fun, fun, fun!
• Having an absolute blast on set with the fabulous crews when filming advertorials .... Plus seeing other Baradine Bodies Models on tele looking fit & fabulous;
  

What is the most challenging part?
Helping some clients believe they are worthy of achieving their goals, when they are experiencing a plateau. Sooo rewarding for them and for me once they do "believe".
 
What would you say to someone thinking about starting a career in the Industry?
If you are just thinking about it, get more involved and see if "just" thinking about it becomes being passionate about it. Once you have the passion, you should "just" do it.

Tell us an important lesson learnt from your first bodybuilding competition.
Wow, that’s too easy, IFBB’s 1986 Oceania Bodybuilding Championships: The day before, I was super excited, I’d trained hard, dieted well, knew the compulsory poses, selected a song I liked (I Eat Cannibals: Toto) to do my free-posing routine to (not exactly choreographed, I was happy though), I was tanned, and ready to compete. I hopped out of bed the next day, competition day, and horror of horrors...........my tan appeared to have fallen off overnight, ahhhhhhhh! I couldn’t believe it, my heart just sank, poor little me! Anyway, I applied another coat of tan, topped it off with some baby oil, and had a fabulous time despite being a wee bit paler than I’d hoped.

The “lesson learnt” is that you must exfoliate before you apply your tan . Seems such a basic thing now, back then though, I clearly had a lot to learn!

Describe someone you've been inspired by during your fitness career.
My Dad, he never gives up. He inspires me to keep pushing myself and setting new goals. As a little boy, when he was sick in bed, his brother was going out to catch rabbits, Dad said "I'm not dead, so I'm coming".  That's the spirit Dad!

Has the industry changed from when you first began, and if yes, explain how?
Absolutely!  Clients' awareness and expectations are much higher, and they deserve their consultants to be abreast of current methods and strategies. The array of sports specific supplementation is growing at an amazing rate, there are some fabulous products available now.
Professionalism is essential now, not just desirable.

If you could only choose 3 nutritional supplements, what would they be?

1. Protein Powder
2. Fat Burners
3. Energy Boosters

So you enjoy Protein shakes, what's your preferred mixer, milk, fruit juice or water?
Definitely skim milk, hands down, ice cold or almost hot, either way is yummm!
Only hiccup is that I'm Lactose Intolerant, that's right, sore bloated tummy and other very unpleasant symptoms. Never fear, LACTEEZE is here! LACTEEZE has changed my life, I carry a little pill box of them whenever I go out, and always treat my milk in the fridge with the drops, so I can enjoy dairy to my hearts' content - no more symptoms of Lactose Intolerance, yay..........

Why do you think the Fitness Industry has grown so much over the years?
Natural progression..... Media and today's world promotes the benefits and importance of being fitter and healthier.

What do you see happening in the Fitness Industry in future?
Continue to grow and diversify..... In particular, an increase in weight training for women .   
 
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
If you think of something nice you can do for someone, do it ;-)